The 1st Battalion 37th Armored Regiment is arguably the most famous tank battalion in United States Army history with a long tradition of valor, excellence, and aggressiveness stretching from World War II to today. The Battalion was constituted on 13 January 1941 in the Regular Army as Company A, 7th Armored Regiment, 4th Armored Division. On 12 July 1944, the Battalion landed at Normandy and bega
n combat operations in the European Theater of War. There it fought with great distinction in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central European campaigns. For its actions, the Bandit Battalion earned three French Croix De Guerres and a Presidential Unit Citation. Among the 37th Tank Battalion’s most notable actions were seizing crossings on the Marne, Meuse, and Moselle Rivers during the Third Army’s historic drive across France, and the relief of the 101st Airborne Division encircled at Bastogne. The most notable commander of the 37th Tank Battalion was General Creighton Abrams (commander of military operations in Vietnam and later Army Chief of Staff) who command the 37th from Normandy to the end of the World War II on his tank “Thunderbolt.” 1-37 AR draws its inspiration from his example of leadership and always holds itself to “Abrams’ Standards.” During World War II, Sergeant Joseph J. Sadowski, a tank commander earned the Medal of Honor. For his actions On 14 September 1944, Sergeant Joseph J. Sadowski’s tank was advancing with the leading elements of Combat Command A, 4th Armored Division, through an intensely severe barrage of enemy fire from the streets and buildings of the town of Valhey. As Sadowski's tank advanced through the hail of fire, it was struck by a shell from an 88-mm. gun fired at a range of 20 yards. The tank was disabled and burst into flames, however Sergeant Sadowski immediately ordered his crew to dismount and take cover in the adjoining buildings. After his crew had dismounted, Sadowski discovered that one member of his crew, the bow gunner, had been unable to leave the tank. Although the tank was being subjected to a withering hail of enemy small-arms, bazooka, gr***de, and mortar fire from the streets and from the windows of adjacent buildings, Sergeant Sadowski unhesitatingly returned to his tank and endeavored to pry up the bow gunner's hatch. While engaged in this attempt to rescue his comrade from the burning tank, he was cut down by a stream of machinegun fire which resulted in his death. The gallant and noble sacrifice of his life in the aid of his comrade, undertaken in the face of almost certain death, so inspired the remainder of the tank crews that they pressed forward with great ferocity and completely destroyed the enemy forces in this town without further loss to themselves. The heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Sadowski, which illustrated our tradition of never failing those with whom you serve. In 1990 the Bandit Battalion supported Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Its honorable service in these campaigns earned it a Valorous Unit Award. Upon redeployment to Germany, the Battalion was part of the larger drawdown of forces following the Cold War. This involved re-stationing from Bavaria to Friedberg in 1997, where the Battalion assumed some of the traditions of 1-32 AR, the original “Bandits of Friedberg,” and their successor, 4-67 AR. During the late 1990s the Bandit Battalion supported Operations in Macedonia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The Bandit Battalion next deployed in January 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, operating initially on the Syrian border training and conducting joint area security operations with Iraqi military and police forces. In May the Bandit Battalion was displaced to the Al Anbar Province tasked with securing the Provincial capital, Ar Ramadi. Upon arrival, the Task Force gallantly assaulted across the Nasir Canal and established a series of six combat outposts deep within enemy held territory. Operating from these outposts during nine months of intense combat, Task Force Bandits drove Al Qaeda from their sanctuary and inflicted grievous losses on the enemy. For these actions, the Battalion has again been nominated for a unit decoration. After a 45 day extension, the Battalion returned to Friedberg in February 2007 to deactivate. They then were reactivated in Fort Bliss in October 2008. In November 2009, the Battalion returned to Iraq for a third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Through its performance in Kirkuk Province, 1-37 earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation. On January 11th, 2011, the Battalion was deactivated once more awaiting to be called on again. For more than sixty years, there have been American tank Soldiers in Friedberg who called themselves the Bandits. This tradition began with the 1st Battalion 32nd Armor, with whom Elvis Presley served in the 1950’s. On June 18th, 2015, the 1st Battalion, 37th Armor activates as part of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
